'What...?'

Tang Tian who was stunned and scared by the scene was given another blow. 55,000 silver coins!? He could pay it back, but the amount for such a useless purchase was not small. Although 55,000 silver coins were only about 1.9% of his kingdom's treasury, he could use that money to start another a small business!

But what worst was...how was he supposed to bring that up in this kind of situation? His skin was not that thick...

Tang Tian shot a look at Tang Rue then shifted to Noble Concubine You and he heard soft snicker beside him.

His face was twitching as he listened to the empress subdued laugh. Observing the officials and guests below looking at his daughter with novel gazes, Tang Tian's face darkened even more.

"Your Majesty..." Noble Concubine You's face was complicated as she mumbled lightly.

With his brows rumpled, Tang Tian said with difficulty, "Since this emperor's daughter owes Prince Shen...This emperor can give her to you as a wife for compensation."

The guests sucked in a breath and stared with anticipation at Song Hui Yao. Some of the men were feeling not too good right now because their goddess was being gifted away as compensation.

Raising his brows, Song Hui Yao looked at the emperor. It was impressive how quickly he was able to thicken his old skin.

Tang Rue who should naturally be upset was jumping on cloud nine instead. It was insulting for the cloud to have her jumping on it.

Tears were streaming down Zhu Xiao Wan's face as she wailed, "It's hot, it's hot..."

Song Hui Yao turned to walk out the door whilst carrying Zhu Xiao Wan with the appropriate posture as siblings. As they were leaving, he said, "This prince will have to ask if Xue Lian want to have hot tea spilled on her again."

Tang Tian stared at the leaving figure and sighed, he expected something like this to happen but he did as he promised: To bring up the marriage thing between Song Hui Yao and his daughter. But still...how was he going to pay back the money?

Tang Rue though was stiffened on spot. However, soon, she persistently found her way to cling onto Song Hui Yao again. He said that he would need to ask Song Xue Lian, 'so if Song Xue Lian agrees...' With her eyes glowing radiantly, Tang Rue also went out of the banquet hall to chase after Song Hui Yao and Zhu Xiao Wan.

-----

"Is it still hot?" Song Hui Yao asked after he used his power to dry the soaked parts of the clothes.

"No," she said, inspecting her jade-like hand that had slipped the teacup, intentionally. She wanted to wash it.

Seeing that Zhu Xiao Wan was peering profoundly at her hand, he just gazed at it indifferently and shifted his line of sight to the neatly placed bonsai pots in front of them. A while later, Song Hui Yao asked, "What do you plan on doing for the next month?"

Wiping her hand onto Song Hui Yao's robe, Zhu Xiao Wan said, "Preparing to go to the Forest of Brume, Master will be teaching me more about plants and herbs in the forest."

The corner of his lips jerked as he watched the hand went back and fore on his robe, "Why are you wiping your hand on my clothes?"

"Your clothes are black, it will leave blemishes if I used white clothes."

'Where is your hand even dirty?' Song Hui Yao faintly pressed his lips together as it tilted slightly downward.

"The foreigners of the western continent, what do they look like?" She retrieved her attention away from her hand to Song Hui Yao as she asked.

Lifting his brows, Song Hui Yao's line of sight returned to her. "...You'll know them when you go to the Palatial Region."

Then they heard footsteps coming towards them. Song Hui Yao already had a smile on his face as he looked at the direction. Zhu Xiao Wan sighed and made her eyes bigger, turned its look to naiveté.

Bowed his head to her ears, Song Hui Yao whispered, "She's here, what are you planning to do?"

"Are you willing to do anything even unorthodox things to shake her off of your tail?" Zhu Xiao Wan stared at him, unintentionally, with her innocent eyes.